Memory Interleaving

Memory Interleaving is a technique used to increase the speed of memory access by splitting memory into multiple modules (banks) and accessing them in parallel.

• Instead of storing the entire block of data in a single module, memory addresses are distributed across multiple modules in a round-robin fashion.
• This allows the CPU to fetch the next instruction/data while the previous one is still being accessed, improving throughput.

Need for Memory Interleaving

• CPU executes instructions much faster than memory can supply data (memory bottleneck problem).
• Without interleaving, CPU must wait for each memory access to complete.
• Interleaving ensures that while one module is busy, the CPU can access another, reducing wait time.

Consecutive Word in a Module: 

Explanation:

• Let us assume 16 Data's to be Transferred to the Four Module. Where Module 00 be Module 1, Module 01 be Module 2, Module 10 be Module 3 & Module 11 be Module 4. Also, 10, 20, 30....130 are the data to be transferred. 
• From the figure above in Module 1, 10 [Data] is transferred then 20, 30 & finally, 40 which are the Data. That means the data are added consecutively in the Module till its max capacity. 
• Most significant bit (MSB) provides the Address of the Module & the least significant bit (LSB) provides the address of the data in the module. 
• For Example, to get 90 (Data) 1000 will be provided by the processor. This 10 will indicate that the data is in module 10 (module 3) & 00 is the address of 90 in Module 10 (module 3). So, 

Module 1 Contains Data : 10, 20, 30, 40
Module 2 Contains Data : 50, 60, 70, 80
Module 3 Contains Data : 90, 100, 110, 120
Module 4 Contains Data : 130, 140, 150, 160

Consecutive Word in Consecutive Module: 

Explanation:

• Now again we assume 16 Data's to be transferred to the Four Module. But Now the consecutive Data are added in Consecutive Module. That is, 10 [Data] is added in Module 1, 20 [Data] in Module 2 and So on. 
• Least Significant Bit (LSB) provides the Address of the Module & Most significant bit (MSB) provides the address of the data in the module. 
• For Example, to get 90 (Data) 1000 will be provided by the processor. This 00 will indicate that the data is in module 00 (module 1) & 10 is the address of 90 in Module 00 (module 1). That is, 

Module 1 Contains Data : 10, 50, 90, 130
Module 2 Contains Data : 20, 60, 100, 140
Module 3 Contains Data : 30, 70, 110, 150
Module 4 Contains Data : 40, 80, 120, 160

Benefits of Memory Interleaving

• Higher Bandwidth: Multiple memory banks work in parallel, so more data can be transferred at once.y. 
• Lower Latency: While one bank is busy, others get ready, reducing wait time.
• Better Performance: Together, higher bandwidth and lower latency make the system faster and more efficient, especially for heavy tasks and multitasking.

Suggested Quiz

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5 Questions

With 4-way interleaving, how many memory modules can be accessed in parallel ?

• A

  1

• B

  2

• C

  4

• D

  Depends on CPU

Explanation:

4-way interleaving = 4 modules → up to 4 parallel accesses (if addresses map to different banks).

What is the primary benefit of memory interleaving?

• A

  Larger memory capacity

• B

  Higher bandwidth and lower effective latency

• C

  Reduced power consumption

• D

  Simpler addressing

Explanation:

Multiple banks work in parallel → higher bandwidth, CPU waits less → lower latency.

Why does the CPU need memory interleaving?

• A

  CPU is slower than memory

• B

  Memory is faster than CPU

• C

  CPU is much faster than memory (memory bottleneck)

• D

  To save power

Explanation:

CPU executes instructions faster than memory can supply data → memory bottleneck.

What is the main goal of Memory Interleaving?

• A

  Reduce CPU clock speed

• B

  Increase memory access speed using parallel access

• C

  Store more data in a single module

• D

  Replace virtual memory

Explanation:

Interleaving splits memory into multiple banks and accesses them in parallel to reduce wait time.

In Consecutive Word in Consecutive Module, consecutive data go to ?

• A

  The same module

• B

  Consecutive modules in round-robin

• C

  Random modules

• D

  Only Module 1

Explanation:

data is distributed round-robin across modules: → 10 → Module 1, 20 → Module 2, 30 → Module 3, 40 → Module 4, 50 → Module 1, etc.

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